If you looked at her car you wouldn’t really notice anything. It was an older model but it was in good repair and it ran well. The paint was in poor condition and the roof was pockmarked with indentations from a hail storm or two. The driver was very pretty and she never took a day in her life for granted. She also smiled while most on the freeway wore frowns. If you were following her you would notice at least two things- she always drove the speed limit and her license plate had no vowels in it. She had a license plate frame that was shiny chrome and it read “My Daddy Loves Me.” Inside the frame was an off-white plate that read “MRCLBBY.” If you were following her and liked to solve puzzles you would probably come up with “Miracle Baby.”

He pulled over on the side of the overpass but he didn’t turn on his hazzards. It was starting to get dark but it was still light enough to see. He had never done it this dark before but he was sure it would work out.

Twenty-one years ago she was borne. Her parents had suffered through several terminated pregnancies and the doctor told them they could try one more time. There was so much pressure on them both that they felt ill most of the time. Every possible treatment had been attempted and this time they were on their second round of attempts. They prayed every day that this time it would work. They wanted a baby. They wanted a baby to complete their family. Mary cried each night thinking the baby would never come.

He laid his bag on the ground by the rail and slowly unzipped it. He reached his hands inside and was fumbling around with whatever he had packed. Every now and then he would glance left and then right. The cars sped fast- the drivers ignoring him.

Her cell phone rang and she answered. It was her mom. She called her every day on her way home from work to make sure she was ok. Her mom told her she loved her and said they would pick her up at 7pm for dinner. She hung up and was smiling again. She was happy to be alive.

He moved over so that he was between his car and the railing. He lifted a long shadow from the bag and rested it on the rail. He checked one more time left and right with no one paying him any attention. He looked down the cold steel rod and leaned his cheek against the side of it. He peered through the site and focused on the cars passing by. He saw a young pretty girl talking on the phone and decided then she was the one. He tensed, held his breath, and gently ended her life.

She felt a burning sensation in her neck and veered into the cars around her. There was the cacophony of breaks and broken glass. It was over fast. The traffic had come to a stop.

He quickly packed his gun and got into his car. He never even saw her license plate.

I awoke surrounded by blackness. I waited for my eyes to adjust but after several minutes there was no change. It was dark and foreboding. I couldn’t even sense anything about my surroundings. It was as if I were nowhere. I felt around in each direction hoping to contact a familiar object. After searching I found nothing. I could only feel the chill from the floor I was standing on. I got down on my hands and knees and ran my palms across the cold hard surface. I could discern no features or details. The floor was hard and smooth. It was also chillingly cold. I started to feel the cold all through my body as I scoured its’ surface. My eyes started to close and I realized the cold was making me sleepy. It had only been 10 or 15 minutes since I last woke. I stood up and fought back the lethargy but was unsuccessful. I don’t even remember laying on the cold of the floor or closing my eyes.

I awoke surrounded by blackness. A sense of panic washed over me. I was here before. I remembered the cold and the blackness. It was all familiar without having any identifiable features. I didn’t remember how I got here or how long I had been here. I didn’t know why I was here or what my captors wanted. I was a prisoner wasn’t I? Had I committed some heinous offense? I had no memory of any events before the dark cold room. If it was a room. I didn’t remember ever contacting any walls. I could feel the sensation of cold traveling up my legs. I noticed I was not clothed. My captives had taken my clothing from me. The cold became more intense and I could feel the warmth of sleep encroaching on me. This seemed so familiar. I tried to fight the feeling but I lost somewhere during the battle…

I awoke surrounded by blackness. How long was I out? Where was I? I could feel a dull ache on the side of my face. The pain was slowly elevating as I gained awareness. I felt my cheek with my fingers and felt dried caked blood. Had I been struck? The wound was aching more and more. Why was I a prisoner? I didn’t remember doing anything wrong. Was I being punished? Anger was washing over me and I cried out to anyone who might be listening, “Why do I deserve this!” A sudden violent flash of light was the only response I got before I fell to the floor blinded and unable to move. My cheek burned with the pain of remembrance. I had committed a horrible murder. He was only 3 years old when I killed him. I didn’t remember why I did it but could their ever be a reason?

I awoke surrounded by blackness. I tried to rise but my cheek was stuck to the floor. I pulled a little and the pain seared through my face. The blood from my cheek had tried to the floor. He was only 3 years old! I was being punished. The police had caught me and this was my cell? That didn’t seem right. We didn’t treat criminals like this. I moved slowly and pulled my face from the floor. The wound opened and the blood flowed. I couldn’t see it but I could feel the warm liquid oozing down my neck. What had I done? Why? I moved quickly in one direction hoping to find the boundary of my cell. After several minutes I felt the impossibility wash over me. There was no wall. How big was this room? I panicked. This couldn’t be happening. I told myself it was a nightmare. That’s all. And I’ll wake soon. Home and safe and in the light.

***This is no nightmare. This is your reality***

Words in my head with no sound. Maybe there was sound from a speaker. But I hadn’t heard any sound-I was certain of that. My captor had communicated with me. “Why am I here?” “Where am I?”

***I was his father. Now I am your tormentor.***

The flash of light was more painful this time and I hit the cold floor hard.

I awoke surrounded by blackness…